Venetian blind assembly device



E. 5. WILSON VENETIAN BLIND ASSEMBLY DEVICE Dec. 22, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 15, 1956 ma Q Q. v my M Q mm Mm vm, w Wm 1 a y f/ma J. W/ Ara 7 IN VEN TOR.

ATTORNEY Dec. 22, 1959 E. 5. WILSON 2,917,810

VENETIANBLIND ASSEMBLY DEVICE Filed Nov. 15, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 157/770 J. W/ Aron INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY Dec. 22, 1959 E. 5. WILSON VENETIAN BLIND ASSEMBLY DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov. 13, 1956 5/070 J. W/Lrcm INVENTOR.

BYUPM azq wzb ATTORNEY Dec. 22, 1959 E. 5. WILSON VENETIAN BLIND ASSEMBLY DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 13, 1956 E/ma J. Wl/JOI? INVENTOR.

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ATTORNEY VENETIAN BLIND ASSEMBLY DEVICE Elmo S. Wilson, Houston, Tex.

Application November 13, 1956, Serial No. 621,707

1 Claim. (Cl. 29-24.5)

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a Venetian blind assembly device.

It is an object of this invention to provide a machine for assembly of the parts of a Venetian blind, in particular, the insertion of the slots into the tape strips preparatory to final binding of the parts.

It is another object of the invention to provide a machine for assembly of parts of a Venetian blind having novel means for maintaining the fabric tape strips of the blind in position to receive the slats as they are projected into position.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a machine for assembly of Venetian blinds having novel means for automatically preventing the insertion of additional slats in the event a slat being inserted fails to reach the desired position in the assembly.

It is still a further object of the invention to provide a means for automatically assembling blind slats in a Venetian blind and automatically discontinuing the slat insertion on assembly of a predetermined number of slats.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention has relation to certain novel features of construction, operation and arrangement of parts more particularly de fined in the following specifications and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of the device.

Figure 2 is a top plan view, taken on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a front elevational plan view of the slat assembly section.

Figure 4 is a rear elevational plan view of the slat assembly section.

Figure 5 is a detailed plan view of the brake mechanism employed.

Figure 6 is a detailed partial section of the tape holding means taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 3.

Figure 7 is an end View taken on the line 7-7 of Figure 4.

Figure 8 is an enlarged detailed view of the elevator ratchet means taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 4.

Figure 9 is an electrical diagram of the electrical circuits employed, and

Figure 10 is an enlarged side elevational View of the clutch operating mechanism.

Figure 11 is an enlarged end view of the clutch operating mechanism, showing the separator arm in its position immediately after release from the disc and solenoid actuating arm. t

Figure 12 is an enlarged end view of the clutch mechanism showing the separator arm in the next consecutive position, and

Figure 13 is an enlarged end view of the clutch mechanism as it appears in its final reset position.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates a slat table on which suitable drive wheels, such as the motor propelled rollers 2, 2, are mounted. A roll of slat material, such as 7, is mounted Fnitd States Patent 0 ice on a suitable spindle 8 and preferably feeds over a guide roller 10 and through the shaping discs as 9, 9, and over a roller guide 11 into the brake rollers 12, 13 and thence into the cutting and perforating means 4, 5 and 6. An electrical switch 14 is mounted on the table 1, which is a pressure sensitive switch that will be contacted by the end of the, slat being cut. The switch 14 will be positioned on the table 1 a distance from the cutter 4 to provide the length of slat desired. Upon contact of the end of the slat material with the switch 14, the cutter and perforators 4, 5 and 6 will be actuated and the brake 15 will be applied to the roller 13, locking the slat material from further movement. A separator arm 21 is pivotally mounted at one end on the housing 3 and the other end extends upwardly between the clutch 22 and brake 23 where it is yieldably maintained in separating position. As the switch 14 is contacted, the solenoid 16 is actuated, moving the solenoid arm 17 upwardly and the pin 18, which is urged constantly outwardly by the spring 19, bears against the arm 17. As the arm 17 moves upward- 1y, it will contact the lever arm 20 rocking the separator arm 21 out of position and off of the stop 29, and from between the clutch 22 and brake actuating disc 23. The clutch 22 will be thrust against the disc 23 by the spring loaded collar 24 and the stud 25 on the clutch 22 will enter one of a series of perforations in the disc 23 and rotate the shaft 26, the pulley 27 constantly rotating on a roller bearing (not shown) on the shaft 26. The solenoid arm 1'7 will strike the block 28 which is beveled at one corner to deflect the arm 17 and disengage the lever 20, which will permit the lever 21 to move back into contact with the clutch 22 and disc 23, and the solenoid activation, being for just a fractional part of a second, the break of contact with the lever arm 20 will permit the arm 17 to return to starting position and, as the clutch completes one rotation, the stop 29 on the clutch 22 will contact the end of the arm 21, which is wedge shaped, and which will be moved by the stop 26 to a position between the clutch 22 and disc 23 to move the clutch out of contact with the disc 23, stopping the rotation of the clutch 22 and shaft 26. The motor 30, and drive belt 31, rotate the pulley 23. The shaft 26 will thus be rotated one complete revolution and the disc 32 on the end of the shaft 26, to which the arm 33 is connected, will rotate the cutter shaft 34, eifecting the cutting and per foration of the slat material in position on the table 1. The other end of the shaft 26 has a disc mounted thereon in which the actuating lever 35 is eccentrically mounted. The lower end of the lever 35 is pivotally connectedto the crank arm 36, which is pivotally anchored to the table 3 and which, when the lever 35 is raised, rocks against the brake 15, moving the brake 15 into braking position. The brake 15 is pivotally connected to the table 3 and the upper end bears against the brake wheel 13 and the lower end is locked into braking position by the pivotal arm 37 which is constantly urged into locking position by the spring 38. A solenoid 39 moves the solenoid arm 40 downwardly upon activation of the solenoid 39, to movethe arm 37 out of engagement with the lower end of the brake 15. i 3

An upstanding framework 41 is mounted at the end of the table 1 and a pair ofelevators 42, 42are sus pended from the upper end ofsaidframewor k by cables 43, 43 which pass ,over suitable pulleys 44, 44. .The framework 41 is preferably provided with a backing board 45 to which the slat guide 46 is secured. Extending inwardly from the sides of theframework 41 are the conduits as 47, 47 having inwardly directed openings 48, 48. A suitable vacuum-pump as 49 may be pro vided to maintain a vacuum in the conduits 47 and the openings 48 are positioned to draw apart the opposing tapes, as 50, of the blind being assembled, so that the slat being received between the tapes will not be impeded in its passage therebetween. The conduits are preferably in the form of a pair of fingers, and, of course, where more than two strips of tape are being employed, additional sets of fingers will be also employed.

A switch 51 is mounted on the inside of the framework 41 opposite the table 1 and in alignment with the guide 46, for a purpose to be hereinafter explained.

An air pump, as 52 maintains a constant supply of air pressure into the regulator 53, filter 54, speed control 68 and the four-way valve 55. An air operated piston is mounted in the cylinder 57 on the framework 41 and an actuating shaft 58 extends therefrom and actuates the ratchet 56. A dog 59 prevents the ratchet from turning in reverse and a foot pedal arm 60 moves the dog 59 into and out of position. The arm 60 is yieldably maintained in lowered position, locking the ratchet wheel 56 against reverse movement, and a foot pedal 61 attached to the pedal arm 60 provides means for manually disengaging the dog. A pair of switches 62, 63 are mounted on the adjustable bracket 64 and the manually operable control arm 65 is provided to adjust the space between the switches 62, 63. A pair of studs 66, 67 extend outwardly from the shaft 58, and the stud 67 operates the switches 62, 63 and the stud 66 acts as a stop, moving against the bracket 64 to prevent the arm 58 from traveling past the desired stroke as set by the control 65. An air conduit 69 leads from the valve 55 to the upper end of the cylinder 57. When the switch 51 is contacted by a slat being assembled into the blind, the solenoid 70 is activated, drawing the valve bar 71 in one direction, which moves the valve 55 into position to permit a fiow of air through the conduit 69 into the top of the cylinder 57, moving the arm 58 downwardly and when the switch 62 is closed by the stud 67, the solenoid 72 is activated moving the bar 71 in the opposite direction and moving the valve 55 into another position to direct the flow of air through the conduit 73 into the bottom of the cylinder 57, moving the arm 58 back to starting position and when the switch 63 is contacted by the stud 67, the solenoid 39 is activated, releasing the brake and the cycle is repeated.

Each time the ratchet 56 is contacted by the arm 58, the shaft 74, on which the ratchet 56 is mounted, is rotated. Pulleys 75, 76 are secured to the shaft 74, and the elevator cables 43 are anchored at one end to the pulleys 75, 76 and are wound thereon. As the pulleys 75, 76 rotate, the elevators 42 are raised or lowered. The pulley 75 is keyed to the shaft 74 in any suitable manner as by means of the bar 77 which passes through the eccentric port 78 in the pulley 75. The pulley 75 is slidable horizontally on the shaft 74, so that the width of the blind construction may be varied, the framework 41 having the post 79 mounted on rollers as 80 and having the upper support 81 which is also mounted on rollers to facilitate ready adjustment of the Width of the framework.

A pair of control cords 82, 83 are suspended from the upper part of the framework 41 as by means of the cord bar 84 which is adjustably suspended by means of the pulleys 85, 85 and cables 86, 86. Suitable yieldable means such as the coil springs 87 hold the cords 82, 83 in position over the blind being assembled. Weights, such as heavy needles, may be provided on the ends of the cords 82, 83 to maintain them in a vertical position and guide them through the slat perforations as the elevators raise the assembled slats.

The blind is assembled by adjusting the framework to the width desired. A head rail 87 is prepared, having suitable openings through which the control cords 82, 83 pass, and having the tapes, as 50, attached in the usual manner and having the bottom rail 88' attached to the lower ends of the tapes. The top rail is then mounted on the elevators 42, 42 and the elevators low- 4 ered or raised to a position to receive the first slat. The hand wheel 88, which is mounted on the framework 41 and which rotates the shaft 90, which rides in suitable bearings as 91, 91 and which rotates the pulley 92 on which the belt 93 is mounted and which rotates the pulley 94 mounted on the shaft 74, rotating the shaft 74. The foot pedal 61 is depressed to release the ratchet wheel 56 for the purpose of making this adjustment.

The fingers 47 hold each of the sets of tapes 50 apart and the brake release switch 95, mounted on the control panel 96, is closed to release the brake 15 and send the first slat into the framework 41, starting the device into operation. On the control panel 96 is also mounted the main switch 97 and a suitable meter or gauge 98A, if desired. As the slats are assembled into the blind, the elevators 42 will continue to raise the head rail 87 until the desired number of slats have been assembled, and as the head rail is lifted, the cords 82, 83 will be guided through the perforations in the slats. When the assembly is complete, the bottom rail 88' will contact the switch 98', breaking the electrical circuit and deactivating the entire device. The operator will then tie the ends of the cords to the bottom rail and remove the completed blind, and repeat the operation.

Adjacent the switch 14 on the table 1 is a guide 99 which directs the slats into the drive rollers 2, 2. The guide 99 is pivotally mounted on the table 1 so that when it is desired to continue slat forming and perforating operations without operating the assembly unit, the guide may be raised out of guiding position and a suitable deflector (not shown) substituted therefor to direct the completed slats off of the table 1. The brake release switch Will permit this operation Without operating the assembly device.

In operation, the slats will pass through the forming mechanism and through the cutting and perforating mechanism and when the brake 15 is released, will be forced past the switch 14 and will be picked up by the rollers 2, 2 and inserted between the tape strips, and through the guide 46 and will contact the switch 51, actuating same. However, in the event a slat is misshapen, or for any reason fails to pass through the tape strips or through the guide 46, it will not contact the switch 51, and, the brake 15 will not be released to permit another slat to pass on to the table 1, and the machine will not again operate until the operator manually removes the slat that failed to contact the switch 51 and makes such adjustment or other realignment that may be necessary. When it is desired to resume operation of the device, the switch may be actuated to release the brake and resume operations. A convex projection 99 is formed in front of each roller 2 to feed the slat material into the roller.

When it is desired to operate the shaping, cutting and perforating means without the assembly means, a suitable manually operable release 100 is provided, such as the pedal lever, which is pivotally mounted'to the table 3 and which has the connecting bar 101 anchored at one end to said lever 100 and at the other end to the brake release 37. A projection, as 102, may provide a lock to maintain the lever depressed or in released position, if desired.

The electrical diagram shown in Figure 9 illustrates the main line of incoming electrical power supply 104 which passes into the junction 105 and to the main switch 97 through the line 114 and to the solenoid 70, and to the motors of the drive rollers 2. When the switch 97 closed, the switch 63 is held open by the stud 67. When the switch 51 is closed by a slat being assembled, the circuit through the solenoid 70 is completed and the arm 71 moves the valve 55 into position to cause the arm 58 to move downwardly into contact with the switch 62 and when the switch 62 is closed, the solenoid 72 is activated, moving the bar 71 back to starting position and power is directed into the relay 108. A switch 106 is provided to be opened by the disconnector 103 on the bar 71 to disconnect the circuit through the solenoid 70 when the bar 71 has traveled the desired distance. When the arm 58 has moved upwardly the length of its stroke, the switch 63 will again be disconnected. When the switch 51 is closed, and the solenoid 70 activated, the solenoid 39 is also activated through the line 107. The normally closed switch 98 will be opened by the bottom rail 88' and the circuit through the line 107 broken. The motor 30 operates directly off of the main power line 104 and switches 110 and 111 may be provided to deactivate the motor, the switch 110 disconnecting the motor from the assembly circuit and the switch 111 disconnecting the motor from the main power line. The switch 14 controls solenoid 16 through the line 112, and the switch 95 is the manually operated brake release switch which activates the solenoid 39 through the line 113.

A back stop, such as the spring steel strip 115 is anchored at one end to the table 1 at the point of entry of the slat into the framework 41 which will yield to permit the slat to enter and which has its extended end upturned to act as a backstop to prevent the slat from bouncing out of position in the framework after striking the switch 51.

While the foregoing is considered a preferred form of the invention, it is by way of illustration only, the broad principle of the invention being defined by the appended claim.

What I claim is:

In a blind assembly device, a slat table and a framework for assembling the blind, a head rail elevator adjustable horizontally and movable vertically in preselected stages, an air motor having a cylinder and piston and air circulating lines for reciprocating said piston, pulleys and cables controlling the vertical movement of said elevator, a ratchet rotating said pulleys and cables, a. pawl extending from said piston and in operative relation with said ratchet, a valve controlling the direction of circulation of air through said piston, a control arm on said valve, solenoids on each end of said arm for effecting the actuation of said valve, means in said framework for activating one of said solenoids when a slat is moved into position for assembly and deactivating said solenoid and activating the other solenoid when the preselected distance of elevation of the elevator has been efiected.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,489,467 Sherwood Nov. 29, 1949 2,635,333 Vodra Apr. 21, 1953 2,769,223 Rosenbaum Nov. 6, 1956 2,797,087 Carey June 25, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 713,802 Great Britain Aug. 18, 1954; 

